Improved indicator dyes



IIVEPROVED INDICATGR DYES Henry Weaker, Bradenton Beach, Fla.

No Drawing. Application March 1, B57, Serial No. 643,220

8 Claims. (Cl. 260-200) This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 557,453, filed January 5, 1956, now abandoned.

This invention relates to, and has for its object the provision of, new azo dyes, and the method of producing them.

The compounds of this invention comprise a member of the group consisting of azo dyes of the general formula OH R and alkali salts thereof (including such soluble salts as alkaline-earth metal salts and especially alkali-metal salts) wherein R is a member of the group consisting of sulfonic, sulfamide, N- (benzyl) substituted sulfamide and N-(lower alkyl) -substituted sulfamide groups. The preferred compounds are those wherein R is a sulfonie group.

Since the new azo dyes of this invention are sensitive to alkali (or acid) they are particularly useful in the production of indicator papers, i. e. papers (or equivalent carrier materials) into which the new compounds of this invention have been incorporated and which give visible indication of an environmental change in hydrogen ion concentration. Thus, for example, filter paper impregnated with the potassium salt of 4-(2,4-dinitro-6-sulfonicphenyl azo)-l-naphthol-6,8-disulfonic acid shows a change from the original color to a significant color (indicating the pH) in solutions used in chemical, biological and clinical procedures.

The new dyestuffs are prepared by the method which essentially comprises coupling in an acid solution, equimolecular quantities of diazo-Z,4-dinitrobenzene-6-suifonic acid with a compound (I) of the class consisting of naphthols of the general formula OHF. I I

wherein R has the meaning given hereinbefore; and recovering the reaction product. Thus, the following con-- pounds (I) may be used in the preparation of the compounds of the invention: l-naphthol-6,8-disulfonic acid; l-naphthol-S-sulfamide-G-sulfonic acid; l-naphthol-8- methylamino sulfonyl-6-sulfonic acid; l-naphthol-S-ethylamino sulfonyl-G-sulfonic acid; l-naphthol-8-propylamino sulfonyl--sulfonic acid; ,l-naphthol-S-benzylamino sulfonyl-6sulfonic aci In preparing the dyestufi of this invention the reactants may also be employed in the alkali salt form (for example, as alkali-metal salts such as the potassium,'sodium, and

2,806,023 Patented Sept. 10, 1957 2 including ammonium salts thereof); and the resulting dye is obtained having one or more of the sulfonic acid groups neutralized by the alkali group.

Alkali metal salts of the new dyestuffs in the dry and pulverized state constitute red or brown powders soluble in water giving green solutions which change upon the addition of alkali, to clear blue free from violet overtones, and upon the addition of acids, to clear yellow, free from orange or red overtones. They yield upon reduction with stannous chloride and hydrochloric acid 1,2,4-triaminobenzene-6-sulfonic acid and R substituted-amido-naphthol-sulfonic acid.

The new dyes are unsuitable for ordinary dyeing purposes due to their sensitivity to acids and alkalis. However the compounds of the invention have excellent properties as indicators, which make them eminently suitable for the purpose of determining the hydrogen ion concentration of solutions. Because of sharp differentiation even with a small difierence in pH value the new dyes are especially useful as pH indicators not only in chemical laboratories but especially also in the field of medicine, e. g. for the accurate determination of the pH values of samples of urine.

The colors of the dyes in solution as well as in the form of test papers (cf. preparation of indicator paper hereinafter) are of a purity and intensity which cannot be attained by other indicators. The outstanding superiority of the compounds of this invention is particularly unexpected since over 150 closely-related compounds have proven to be quite unsuitable or inferior as indicators. Thus, when diazotized 4-sulfonic-2,6-dinitroaniline is employed as the diazo component, in place of diazotized 2,4- dinitro aniline-S-sulfonic acid, the resultant compound is unsatisfactory as an indicator. Similarly, when a Z-naphthol sulfonic acid is employed as the azo component, (in place of a l-naphthol-sulfonic acid), the resultant dye does not give a tri-color producing indicator. For example, the dye, 1-(2,4-dinitro-6-sulfonic phenylazo)-2-naphthol-6,8-disulfonic acid salt gives a slightly dull orange acid color, and in alkaline, a gray-blue color.

The following 7 examples are illustrative, but by no means limitative of the invention (the parts are by weight; and the temperature is in degrees centigrade).

EXAMPLE 1 4-(2,4-dinitr0-6-sulf0nic phenyl az0)1-naphth0l-6,8- disulfonic acid, potassium salt 30.1 parts of the potassium salt of 2,4-dh1itroaniliue-6- sulfonic acid are diazotized by dissolving in 300 parts of concentrated sulfuric acid and adding 6.9 parts of sodium nitrite. The solution of diazo-2,4-dinitrohenzene-6-sulfonic acid thus obtained is allowed to run slowly into a solution of 30.4 parts of l-naphthol-6,8-disulfonic acid (prepared for example as described in German Patent 75,084, 83,146 or 82,563) in 300 parts of water in the presence of 600 parts of ice. After 1 hour the dye is salted out by the addition of potassium sulfate (about parts), and the dyestuff filtered, washed with a potassium sulfate solution, pressed and dried. The new dyestufi thus obtained, in the form of its potassium salt, corresponds with the following formula:

OH soaK NO: 503K qThe latter in the dry PREPARATION OF AN INDICATOR PAPER.

Filter paper is-impregnated'with' a 0.2% aqueous solution of 4-(2,4-dinitro-6-sulfonic phenylazo)-l-naphthol- 6,8-disulfonic acid (prepared as described in Example 1') and carefully dried; The paper is impregnated with a neutral aqueous solution containing 0.66% of the sulfonium product, described in" German Patent 661,749, and again dried. The resultant indicator paper being the subject of my copend'iiig application, Serial No. 591,023, filed June. 13', 1956, and entitled Indicator Papers.

' Clinically this-indicator paper can be used in the same general way as phenaphthazine paper todetermine the pH (of urinary, vaginal, ocular, nasal and salivary secretions for example)-with however outstandingly superior re-- sults. It is also used in soil' pH'detenninations and other nonclinical application. I

The paper is capable of giving clear differentiation between pH 4 and below, 5-, 6, 7, 8, '9 and almost instantaneously. Specifically thecolor response at the respective pH, using for example Mcllvaine universal buffers, is asfollowsr pH Color pH 4.0 or below yellow.

5.0 yellow-green. 6.0 light green. 7.0 dark green. 8.0 or above darkblue.

EXAMPLE 2 4- (2,4- dinitr0-6-sulf0nz'c phenyltzz0)-I-naphth0l-8 sulfonamido-6-sulf0nic acid, potassium salt SQaNa with parts of aqueous concentrated ammonia atroom temperature, neutralizing the excess of ammonia with dilute sulfuric acid and adding 600'parts ofiiceand 150 parts of water.) After'l hour the new dyestufi is salted out by the addition of potassium snlfate;.and thedyestuii filtered, washed with apotassiunisulfate solution,;pressed anddr ied. The new dyestufl'tthus'obtained, in the form of its' neutral potassium salt, corresponds with the formula: 1

on soarin N0; son:

0111- N bli Y 'Qi pulverizedstate' is a red powder soluble in water with a green color, soluble in concentrated sulfuric acid with a purple color. Upon reduction with stannous chloride andhydrochloric acid it" yields 1,2,4-triaminobenzene-6-sulfonic acid and 1-naphthol-4- amido-8-sulfamido-6-sulfonic acid.

EXAMPLE 3 30.1 parts of the potassium salt of 2,4-dinitroaniline-6- sulfonic acid are diazotized as in Example 1- and the diazo solution is combined with a solutionof 1-naphthol-8-N- methylsulfamido-6-sulfonic.acid; (The latter is obtained by treating 308 parts of the. sodium salt .of 1,8-naphthosultone-6-sulfonic acid with 60 parts of a 25% aqueous solution .of methylamine at room temperature for 12 hours, neutralizing the excess of methylamine with dilute sulfuric acid and adding 600 parts of ice), After 1 hour the new dyestuif is salted" out by the addition of salt (about parts), and'the dyestuif'filtered, washed'with salt solution, pressed anddried. The product thusobtained, in the form of its neutral' odium salt, corresponds. with the formula:

N0 SOaNa I SO Na In the dry and pulverized state it is a brown powder soluble in water with a. green: color, and soluble in concentrated sulfuric acid with a purple. color. Upon, reduction with stannous chloride. and hydrochloric. acid it yields 1,2,4-triamino'benzene6-sulfonic. acid and' 1-naphth0l-4- amido-8-'N-(m-ethyl)sulfamide 6-sulfonic acid.

EXAMPLE. 4

4- (2,4-diizitro-6-sulfonic plzenyl azo) -]-naphth0l-6,8- disulfonic acid, potassium-salt .Dz'az0tati0n.29.7 g. of finely powdered dry 2,4-dinitroaniline-6-sulfonic acid sodium salt, prepared "as described in Example 1, that is .1 mol, suspended in 300 cc. glacial acetic acid, and 70 cc/ofznitrosylsulfuric acid are. added slowly; the temperature should. be kept below 30 by cooling. After stirring for 1 hour the. solution becomes. clear except for a small amount of inorganic salt. 'This diazo solution is quite stable at room temperature;

Coupling..1l mol of naphthosulton-fi-sulfonic. acid are converted into l-naphthol-6,8-disulfonic acid, neutralized withdilute sulfuric acid, diluted to'400 cc. with water and an excess of ice isadded. The diazov solution'is then. run slowly into it with good agitation. Coupling takes place rapidly; after a short time, 5% of potassium sulfate, based on the volume of the liquid; is added to the clear, deep orange colored solution and after 2 hours the precipitated dye is filtered, washed on the filter with a 5% potassium sulfate solution which is slightly acidified with acetic acid, and dried at 7080. It may be washed on the filter with acetone in order to removernostofthe.

potassium sulfate. dissolved in the Wash liquor.. Theprod: duct, 4-'(2,4:dinitro-6-sulfonic-phenyl. azo)-l-naphthol-6,

' 8 disulfoni'c acid, potassium salt, is in the form of orange.

crystals, fairly soluble in water, 1658. 60. in.methanol,;insoluble in acetone. It comesout very pure andis ready for use.

azo) -1+naphthol6,8-disulfonie acid.,

ortho azo product, thatis', 2-'(2,4-dinitro-6=sulfonicrphenyl.

acidrcolor orange;

EXAMPLE 5 Use of a molar equivalent of ethylamine 'or benzylamine in place of methylamine in Example 3 yields l-naphthol- 8-1 -ethylsulfamido-6-sulfonic acid and l-naphthol-8-N- benzyl-sulfamido-6-s1flfonic acid respectively; and ultimately the sodium salt of 4-(2,4-dinitro-6-sulfonic phenyl azo)-1-naphthol-8-(N-ethyl sulfonamido)-6-sulfonic acid and of 4-(2,4-dinitro-6-sulfonic phenyl 'aZo)-1-naphthol- 8-(N-benzyl 'sulfonamido)-6-sulfonic acid are produced.

The latter products, like the N-methyl compound have the following pH range: pH 7, blue; pH, blue; pH 5, dark green; pH 4, yellow.

The invention may be variously otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Compounds of the class consisting of:

OIII R NO: SOEH NO N=N 6 wherein R is a member of the class consisting of sulfonic, sulfonamide, N-(lower alkyD-substituted sulfonamide, N- (benzyl) substituted sulfouaniide groups and alkali salts thereof.

2. -An alkali metal salt of 4-(2,4-dinitro-6-sulfonicphenylazo)-1-naphthol-6,8-disulfonic acid.

3. An alkali metal salt of 4-(2,4-dinitro-6-su1fonicphenylazo)-1-naphthol-8-sulfonamido-6-sulfonic acid.

4. An alkali metal salt of 4-(2,4-dinitro-6-sulfoniophenylazo)-1-naphthol-8-N-(methyl) sulfonamido 6 sulfonic acid.

5. 4-(2,4-dinitro6-su1fonic-phenylazo)-1-naphtho1 6, S-disulfonic acid, potassium salt.

6. 4-(2,4-dinitro-6-sulfonic-phenylazo)-l-naphthol 6, 8-disulfonic acid, sodium salt.

7. 4-(2,4-dinitro-6-sulfonic-phenylazo)-1-naphtho1- 8 sulfonamido-6-su1fonic acid, potassium salt.

8. 4-(2,4-dinitro-6-sulfonic-phenylazo)-1-naphtho1 8 (N-methyl-sulfonamido)-6-sulfonic acid, sodium salt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. COMPOUNDS OF THE CLASS CONSISTING OF: 